BuzzFeed - FCLEditorhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3
BuzzFeed, Find Your New Favorite ThingenCopyright 2017 BuzzFeed, Inc.Fri, 18 Aug 2017 00:16:02 -0400editor@buzzfeed.com (https://www.buzzfeed.com/about)info@buzzfeed.com (https://www.buzzfeed.com/about)BuzzFeedhttps://webappstatic.buzzfeed.com/static/images/public/rss/logo.pnghttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3
Recently Someone Called Me A Hairy Arm Pitted Dyke - They Meant Feminist!https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/recently-someone-called-me-a-hairy-arm-pitted-dyke-a7p9
Recently someone called me a hairy arm pitted dyke. I thought that was just charming especially as the word that they were looking for was feminist. I may however have to admit to the hairy armpits, as I have not yet come out of winter mode, and dyke? well it was just that one time at band camp, but that is not the point here. I am a single woman, I shout about equality and I support a number of women’s movements. I advocate education in girls across the world and hope that I will see changes in my lifetime, just as the feminists that went before me did. That does not make me a dyke and it more importantly it does not make me a stereotype.

Recently someone called me a hairy arm pitted dyke. I thought that was just charming especially as the word that they were looking for was feminist. I may however have to admit to the hairy armpits, as I have not yet come out of winter mode, and dyke? well it was just that one time at band camp, but that is not the point here. I am a single woman, I shout about equality and I support a number of women's movements. I advocate education in girls across the world and hope that I will see changes in my lifetime, just as the feminists that went before me did. That does not make me a dyke and it more importantly it does not make me a stereotype.

We are all feminists to some extent. There is no one defining feminist movement, there are millions of movements going on every day, from the mother telling her daughter that it is ok to raise her hand in class to the woman helping to educate girls in Afghanistan. Men are feminists too, men who support their wives and daughters to achieve great things and those who rescue young girls from forced marriages.

Feminism is not about women being the superior gender it is about equality for both sexes. It is about choice. I can choose to go to work, I can choose to be a stay home mum, I can choose not to have children at all, I can choose who I marry and I can choose what gender my spouse will be. (current economics make that a tad subjective but the underlaying message remains).

The women who went before me and the men who supported their ideas made it possible for me to vote, to come out of the typing pool and to be a single mother. Obviously on a global scale feminism is so much more, but in my little bubble, these are the things that affect me the most and allow me to exercise my voice.

And talking of my voice, I am rather fond of it. I am lucky that I live in a country that on the whole doesn't mind women having a voice. I am also extremely lucky that my business partner lets me run an online magazine on which I can use my voice. Although to be fair, I am very happy to use my voice on any available platform, including the supermarket checkout queue.

That to me is Feminism – it is being able to live my life as I want to, but in doing that I have a responsibility to speak for those who are not so lucky. Women without a voice are not necessarily those being traded like property in the 3rd world, they are also living on the same street as you. Women who are being subjected to violence every day, too afraid to speak and even if they did speak out, where would they go? Who would support them emotionally and financially? Women suffering illness alone and frightened. The single mother who just lost her job and is struggling to feed her children because the benefits system is so slow.

So to the bald headed Bupkes who complimented me so charmingly – Thank you for reminding me that the feminist movement needs to keep shouting or maybe speak slower for those of you who are not quite equal in the brain department!

FCM Today / Via &nbsp;

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/recently-someone-called-me-a-hairy-arm-pitted-dyke-a7p9Thu, 17 Apr 2014 08:07:33 -0400Recently someone called me a hairy arm pitted dyke. I thought that was just charming especially as the word that they were looking for was feminist. I may however have to admit to the hairy armpits, as I have not yet come out of winter mode, and dyke? well it was just that one time at band camp, but that is not the point here. I am a single woman, I shout about equality and I support a number of women&rsquo;s movements. I advocate education in girls across the world and hope that I will see changes in my lifetime, just as the feminists that went before me did. That does not make me a dyke and it more importantly it does not make me a stereotype.margotb3adultBonkers News Roundup 16th April 2014https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/bonkers-news-roundup-16th-april-2014-a7p9
This week’s news round-up carries the subheading: “Bonkers News” – for reasons that shall become clear shortly.

A man in Ohio was prosecuted for being a “nightmare” neighbour and as part of his sentence, was forced to spend 5 hours on Sunday morning sitting at a street corner holding a sign whose letters must be visible from 25 feet away. The sign said: “I AM A BULLY! I pick on children that are disabled,and I am intolerant of those that are different from myself. My actions do not reflect an appreciation for the diverse South Euclid community that I live in.” That sounds like a perfectly reasonable punishment to me; he had been feuding with his neighbour for 15 years and also had to write her a letter of apology.

Something bonkers in a completely different way now: since the Connecticut school shootings 16 months ago, apparently 70 laws have been passed in the United States to loosen gun restrictions. One such law was passed last week in Georgia. People are now allowed to carry loaded guns in bars (unless the owner specifically asks them not to), and in airports – but not the secure areas; that would just be daft. But if you forget and bring your gun into a secure area by mistake that will only count as a misdemeanour (rather than a felony). Apparently they tried to get the law to include people being allowed to bring a concealed weapon into church, but didn’t manage it.

Still in the States, and US Airways had a bit of a… PR problem this week, when they seem to have accidentally tweeted a photo of a naked woman … masturbating with a toy plane. I’m not even joking. Not only did they send this tweet, they left it up to do the rounds of the internet for an hour – during which time it was retweeted over 500 times - before deleting it. An hour on Twitter is like a week of normal news cycles, so by now half the globe has seen it. Well done, US Airways!

One of my favourite news stories of the week is that of Johnny Depp being handed court papers at the premiere of his new movie. The court papers require him to appear in court in LA in defence of a lady accused of murder. The defence is that she shouldn’t go to jail because she’s clearly mad. Depp has been called in to prove that the accused is, in fact, insane; when she was arrested for murder in 2009, she told the police she was in LA to meet her boyfriend, Johnny Depp. Depp has declined to comment.

The bonkers news isn’t all from the US though; in Pakistan last week, a 9-month-old baby was charged with murder… apparently the charge was against his whole family, not just him – which is… er… well, any way when it got to court the judge removed the boy from proceedings – though it seems all of the adults in his family are still being charged with murder.

And in Showbiz news, Kimye are commanding all of the headlines again, with news that Kim plans to lose more weight before the wedding, Kris is considering lipo before the big day, and Bruce Jenner has apparently promised to wait until after the wedding for his gender reassignment surgery. File under “couldn’t make this shit up.”

FCM Today / Via &nbsp;

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/bonkers-news-roundup-16th-april-2014-a7p9Thu, 17 Apr 2014 08:01:56 -0400This week&rsquo;s news round-up carries the subheading: &ldquo;Bonkers News&rdquo; &ndash; for reasons that shall become clear shortly.margotb3adult3 Yoga Positions To Relieve Stresshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/3-yoga-positions-to-relieve-stress-a7p9
Money worries and busy work schedules are things that most of us are only too familiar with. Unfortunately, today’s fast-paced lifestyle wreaks havoc with our nervous system, contributing to all kinds of health problems. So it is important to give the nervous system a chance to reset, and the best way to do this is by practicing deep relaxation. Using Yoga positions to relieve stress is a natural choice.

The Wave Breath

The wave-breath has a calming effect on the nervous system and can also improve mood, helping to combat depression and anxiety.

Lie down on your back, on the floor or on your bed, with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Breathe in gently and breathe out, pulling your knees to the chest and wrapping your arms around your knees.

Breathe in, slowing lowering your legs, keeping the arms around the knees. Lower the legs until your knees are over your hips and your elbows are straight. Breathe out, pulling the knees to the chest. Repeat this sequence for at least three minutes.

Resting Cobblers Pose

Lie down on your back, on the floor or on your bed, and bend your knees. Place your feet flat on the ground, and place a flat pillow under your head to support the neck, if you wish.

Now let your legs fall open, keeping knees bent, and press the soles of the feet together. Just let them fall open without applying any pressure. If this is not comfortable for you, use yoga blocks or pillows to support your knees at a comfortable level.

Stretch out your arms, side to side, at shoulder-level, keeping the elbows slightly bent and breathe deeply. Breathe in filling the abdomen with air, and breathe out, releasing any tension in that area. The breath will create a ripple effect that will move up your spine and give you a deep sensation of relaxation. Stay like this for three to five minutes.

Via &nbsp;

Legs Up the Wall Pose

Legs-up-the-wall pose has a deep restorative effect on the nervous system and also aids circulation in the legs.

Place two folded blankets or two pillows close to the wall. Leave a gap of approximately one foot or 30 cm between the wall and the blankets or pillows.

Next, sit astride of the blankets, and gently lower yourself until you are lying down at a right angle to the wall, with your head and upper back on the floor, and your lower back supported by the blankets. Then move your legs up against the wall, keeping the knees soft.

Position yourself carefully so that your tailbone is hanging over the blanket support. Then stretch out your arms at shoulder-level, again keeping the elbows slightly bent and breathe deeply. You will feel a sinking feeling in the lower back and a hollowing feeling in the abdomen, which creates a wonderful release that travels up the spine. Stay here for three to five minutes.

Via &nbsp;

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/3-yoga-positions-to-relieve-stress-a7p9Thu, 17 Apr 2014 07:34:01 -0400Money worries and busy work schedules are things that most of us are only too familiar with. Unfortunately, today&rsquo;s fast-paced lifestyle wreaks havoc with our nervous system, contributing to all kinds of health problems. So it is important to give the nervous system a chance to reset, and the best way to do this is by practicing deep relaxation. Using Yoga positions to relieve stress is a natural choice.margotb3adult8 Tips For Giving Up Smokinghttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/8-tips-for-giving-up-smoking-a7p9
Research has shown that if you stop smoking for 28 days, you are 5 times more likely to quit for good. With smoking causing thousands of premature deaths each year (estimated to be over 100,000 per annum), there really is no better reason to quit smoking than to improve your health and reduce your risk factors for getting a serious disease. It is never too late to stop, no matter what your age, stopping smoking will improve your health! Below are some of our top tips to help you with the process:

Only if you have a genuine desire to give up smoking for yourself will you be successful at staying smoke free

Quitting smoking is not easy which is why you need the strength and emotional support from family and friends to encourage you and praise your achievements. The more people that know you are trying to quit, the easier it will be.

There are lots of advice and support groups available which may help you with the quitting process. It is also important to speak to healthcare professionals who will be able to give you advice and support.

Via &nbsp;

Going cold turkey without nicotine can be very difficult, so stop smoking and slowly reduce your dependency on nicotine with nicotine replacements such as patches or gum. These are available at pharmacies and may also be available to you on prescription from the doctors.

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/8-tips-for-giving-up-smoking-a7p9Fri, 03 May 2013 15:02:05 -0400Research has shown that if you stop smoking for 28 days, you are 5 times more likely to quit for good. With smoking causing thousands of premature deaths each year (estimated to be over 100,000 per annum), there really is no better reason to quit smoking than to improve your health and reduce your risk factors for getting a serious disease. It is never too late to stop, no matter what your age, stopping smoking will improve your health! Below are some of our top tips to help you with the process:margotb3adult4 Ways To Beat The Benefits Caphttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/4-ways-to-beat-the-benefits-cap-a7p9
Its happening and I can’t find more that 4 ways around it …

Marry a Prince

Unlikely

Win the Lottery

slightly less unlikely

Find a Job

possible

Start a Small Business

More possible than you think and a business that you can run from home will give you the best of both worlds - there is so much help out there for new businesses!

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/4-ways-to-beat-the-benefits-cap-a7p9Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:00:32 -0400Its happening and I can&#39;t find more that 4 ways around it ...margotb3adult5 Things I Learned By Avoiding Social Mediahttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/5-things-i-learned-by-avoiding-social-media-a7p9
Yes! there is life outside the box …

Knowing what you had for breakfast has no bearing on my life ...

A hug from a real life friend is better than a virtual one ...

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/5-things-i-learned-by-avoiding-social-media-a7p9Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:43:01 -0400Yes! there is life outside the box ...margotb3adult5 Steps To Changing Your Moodhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/5-steps-to-changing-your-mood-a7p9
A bad mood can not only ruin the flow of your day and impact on your productivity, it can also affect the quality of decisions that we make. So, being able to talk ourselves out of a bad mood is a very valuable tool and very much worth a 15 minute investment.

1. Decide the level of your bad mood on a scale of 1 – 10 (1 being irritated and 10 is looking for a heavy object)

2. Ask your self what triggered the mood. Maybe you didn't get enough sleep, or you argued with your partner.

3. Focus on exactly what happened. Then decide if you are distorting, deleting or generalising the facts.

4. Now score your mood again. Hopefully it will be lower.

5. Take a deep breath and make a conscious decision to smile through the rest of the day.

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/5-steps-to-changing-your-mood-a7p9Mon, 22 Apr 2013 06:03:37 -0400A bad mood can not only ruin the flow of your day and impact on your productivity, it can also affect the quality of decisions that we make. So, being able to talk ourselves out of a bad mood is a very valuable tool and very much worth a 15 minute investment.margotb3adult10 Top Tips For Working At Homehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/10-top-tips-for-working-at-home-a7p9
Here is my list of tips for working at home, many of them I have learnt the hard way

I have to say that the decision to stop commuting and start my own business was one of the best choices I have ever made. I did briefly consider renting an office close to home, but decided that it was an unnecessary expense and rather defeated the object, as my main incentive for striking out on my own was to spend more time at home with my children. I camped out on the dinning room table for a little while, whilst I had a shed/office built. It was a lovely office, but I did feel a bit isolated, sat at the bottom of the garden like a sad little gnome! But as luck would have it, one of my sons did fancy living at the bottom of the garden, so we swapped, he is now a happy little garden gnome, entertaining friends in his uber chic pad and I have a cosy little room at the top of the house with views of trees and the neighbours! You may think this to be a lovely little anecdote with a happy ending and of course a gnome (all anecdotes should include a gnome), but no, finding a space to work is just the beginning ….

Having moved into to my office, purchased matching accessories and made a stationery order to match that of a multi national company. I set about actually doing some work. Now this article may have a humorous tone but we all know that finding the money to pay the bills is not a laughing matter, although I did laugh out loud at my last electricity bill! Once one has jumped ship as it were, there is no hiding behind the HR dept, no boss to blame and no set payday to wait for. The business, your business has to pay its way and quickly. The only way for this to happen is with hard work and copious amounts of red wine, well maybe not the latter but definitely hard work. The only way to make money is to sit at your desk and do the things that people have paid you to do and to do them well enough that they tell their friends etc etc etc …

Here is my list of tips for working at home, many of them I have learnt the hard way

1. Phil and Holly are not talking directly to you, so there is no need to sit and watch the whole show.
2. Set your ducks in a row, keep paperwork in order, a filing cabinet is a sound investment.
3. keep office hours, its fine to take a couple of hours to go shopping once in a while, but set hours for working will keep you in the right frame of mind.
4. Make social plans around your working hours, just as you would if you went out to work.
5. Inform family and friends that just because you are at home, you may not be available and to call before they just drop in. (Dad, are you listening?).
6. Take a flask of coffee/tea to your desk, a trip to the kettle can often lead to an emergency defrost of the fridge or a 'I'll just give Aunty Mavis a call'
7. Taking a lunch break is a must, one cannot work on an empty stomach, it is also necessary to take a break from the computer screen.
8. The best way to have a good idea is to step away from the laptop, I got a dog and a greenhouse for this very reason. A brisk walk in the fresh air does wonders for creativity.
9. Use other freelancers, let someone else do those boring accounts, hire a VA on an hourly basis for busy times and get on with growing your business.
10. Once you have closed your office, mentally switch off too, give your family your undivided attention, after all they are the reason that most of us chose to work at home.

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/10-top-tips-for-working-at-home-a7p9Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:51:52 -0400Here is my list of tips for working at home, many of them I have learnt the hard waymargotb3adultOffice In A Handbag - Top 10 Appshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/office-in-a-handbag-top-10-apps-a7p9
With the myriad of apps that are available it is now quite literally possible to work from anywhere at anytime. Emails can be read and replied to whist you are having a romantic dinner (actually that’s not such a good idea!) or send a PayPal request whilst waiting for the bus. It’s not so much my phone that now fits in to my favorite sparkly clutch bag, but my entire office too!

Twenty odd years ago I had a phone on a little table in the hall, If I wasn't home anyone wanting me would have to call back later, I think that there was an answering machine attached to said phone, but back in the day people were a little suspicious of them and very rarely left a message. Life was quieter back then, shops were closed on Wednesday afternoons and no one had even dreamt of Sunday opening. Then came the mobile phone, a huge brick that was hardly 'mobile' I had to get a bigger handbag to accommodate mine. My husband at the time loved technology and thought that it was a perfect gift; I just relished the opportunity to buy a new handbag. Anyway, at this time I was volunteering with an outreach charity working with young people on the streets. The mobile phone changed the way in which we worked; we were able to call the emergency services from the emergency, call hostels for availability and I was able to call home to let my family know I was OK,. The mobile phone was already becoming indispensible.

The first handheld mobile that I had didn't have text messaging, it simply allowed one to make an over priced call. People were becoming available where ever they were. The world was changing, the internet had arrived and businessmen all over the country were telling their wives that they were on the train. Then came the texting, who would have known just how huge that would be? How did teenagers communicate in my day? Oh yes I remember, we talked with each other and we actually did laugh out loud when we weren't in our Goth phase. It's not all bad though, I now know were my children are at any given time of the day and I also know that 'Lucy is going out with that ***** who works in Sainsbury' although that particular text was sent to me in error LOL.

So, with the world permanently attached to their new BFF, the mobile phone and everyone reliant on an internet connection, Apple decided to up the game …. A phone WITH an internet connection, a phone that was ALSO a computer, well I wasn't having any of that. Who would want such an item, pffft, not me! And then my best friend bought me one …

My Apple IPhone sat in the box winking at me from the corner of the room for a full two weeks …

I remember it well, the day that my life changed forever, the day that the last bastion of hope and the realities of a bygone age were ripped from my still heaving chest, and the day that I opened the box. Or rather my friend opened the box shortly after calling me a most unflattering name which I will not repeat. That was it, there was no return, I was hooked. I have become so attached to my phone that I require oxygen if I am ever more than an arms reach away from it.

With the myriad of apps that are available it is now quite literally possible to work from anywhere at anytime. Emails can be read and replied to whist you are having a romantic dinner (actually that's not such a good idea!) or send a PayPal request whilst waiting for the bus. It's not so much my phone that now fits in to my favorite sparkly clutch bag, but my entire office too!

Here are my top 10 simply 'must have' apps

1. UK Train Times
2. Tube exits
3. PayPal
4. Tunein Radio
5. Kindle
6. Office2
7. Netflix
8. Dropbox
9. Skype and other socoal media apps (I am lumping all these in together as having one without the other causes the universe to implode)
10. Ebay (to be used with caution and never when bored)

What is your 'must have' app?

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/office-in-a-handbag-top-10-apps-a7p9Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:32:43 -0400With the myriad of apps that are available it is now quite literally possible to work from anywhere at anytime. Emails can be read and replied to whist you are having a romantic dinner (actually that&rsquo;s not such a good idea!) or send a PayPal request whilst waiting for the bus. It&rsquo;s not so much my phone that now fits in to my favorite sparkly clutch bag, but my entire office too!margotb3adult8 Ways To Cope With Stresshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/8-ways-to-cope-with-stress-a7p9
One of the most common maladies of the modern age, stress is something that affects us all. In fact, it is one of the main reasons given for time taken off work, so a healthy, happy, functioning employee is good for the economy and even more important for a productive small business owner.

A stress response can be caused by all manner of things from everyday anxiety to a life-altering event such as bereavement. A 'fight or flight' response is triggered by the release of adrenalin from the adrenal glands, which stimulates our body's responses and enables us to confront or escape danger. The problem occurs when the hormone remains in the body or is not eliminated properly, and the body remains in a state of sustained tension. Eventually this will weaken the adrenal system.

The insidious nature of stress means that it can creep up on us seemingly without warning and gradually wears down our general well-being. The first step is to identify the symptoms, which range from the psychological (irritability, anxiety, low moods, anger, mood swings, hopelessness) to the physical (aches and pains, susceptibility to illness, fatigue, migraines, tension, etc.) to the mental (poor concentration, indecisiveness). If left untreated or unchecked, stress can lead to much more serious complaints such as high blood pressure, even a stroke.

So if you want to continue getting the most out of life and find the strength to deal with the very things that made you stressed in the first place, here are some useful recommendations:

1. Time-management. Quite often a stressed person will continue to work until literal exhaustion, feeling the need to 'get it all done'. Then there's striking the balance between work and family, seeing friends, doing the household chores – we are expected to give equal priority to everything. So try to organise your weekly timetable in advance; work out where you're spending all your time and try to re-arrange if necessary. Delegate, perhaps. Make sure you fit in some time to eat properly, preferably away from your desk (see 4). Try to list where you can make changes in your lifestyle, and tackle them one by one – without putting too much pressure on yourself.

2. Exercise. Those little feel-good chemicals, endorphins, are what help us relax. After a hard day's work, exercise can often seem the last thing your body can cope with, but going for a quick run or even doing some aerobics in the bedroom may actually help to energise you. The endorphins will enhance your immune system, making you less susceptible to illness.

3. Choose a complimentary therapy. For example, the different fragrances used in aromatherapy massage (also a good way to release endorphins) are thought to energise, soothe, relax or stimulate as required. Other reputedly beneficial activities are yoga, which focuses on correcting posture, increasing muscle strength and relaxing the mind.

4. Eat well and chew slowly. Additive filled fatty snacks or sweet treats may feel good at the time, but it could be an emotional response to your low mood or stressed mind. Stress-induced tiredness may make it tempting to make it through the day with caffeine, but this will only cause an energy crash later. Simply replace your tea or coffee with calming herbal infusions or water. Essentially, poor nutritional choices make the blood-sugar level fluctuate, producing increased insulin, which then has a knock-on effect on hormones. Good foods for stress relief are: foods rich in B vitamins to keep the brain and nervous system functioning properly (such as wholegrains, dark leafy vegetables and liver), foods containing the serotonin-booster tryptophan, such as turkey, eggs or cheese, and other sustaining snacks such as almonds (full of protein, which won't send your blood sugar soaring), seeds (packed with zinc, calcium, B vitamins), broccoli (folic acid) and oily fish to enable the essential fatty acids to help your brain.

5. Relax. It's important to take time for yourself, whether that's by taking a 20-minute walk, reading or singing. Spending time with loved ones can be a real tonic for mind and soul.

6. Laugh. Not only does it improve our mental and emotional well-being, it has also been proven to increase the body's oxygen levels in the blood by the increased air entering our lungs. This enhances the body's main systems, among them hormonal and immune by increasing the amount of immunoglobin in the blood.

8. Enjoy some chocolate! While refined milk chocolate is often accompanied by feelings of guilt or anxiety, dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (for example, over 70%) is highly nutritious. It is a source of iron, magnesium, protein and B vitamins and is a good way to get a natural kick.

Via &nbsp;

]]>https://www.buzzfeed.com/margotb3/8-ways-to-cope-with-stress-a7p9Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:43:41 -0400One of the most common maladies of the modern age, stress is something that affects us all. In fact, it is one of the main reasons given for time taken off work, so a healthy, happy, functioning employee is good for the economy and even more important for a productive small business owner.margotb3adult